“Participants imagined an inclusive, welcoming space where they can discover new possibilities, gain new skills, tap into local expertise and make meaningful connections,” says Christina Mune, associate dean of innovation and resource management at the SJSU King Library.

Faculty at SJSU are already engaged in a variety of interdisciplinary digital humanities projects. These projects include virtual exhibitions, immersive digital experiences, textual analysis and visualization and research on ethics in AI and other technologies.

“One of our values as a department of humanities at SJSU is that the things we study and think about should be connected to and have meaning for people outside of academia,” says Todd Ormsbee, chair and professor of American studies.

“The Digital Humanities Center in the library provides a space where we can build that bridge, not just to share what we’re learning, but also to listen to the responses and feedback that people have to the humanities,” says Ormsbee. “We feel very strongly that the kind of historical, critical, cross-cultural work we do is vitally important in the world today, and the DHC gives us the means both to share and learn from the communities we serve.”

The Digital Humanities Center represents a significant step forward in integrating digital technologies with research and scholarship and capturing the community’s lived experiences. It is a testament to the power of community collaboration and the university's commitment to fostering innovation and interdisciplinary research. As the DHC prepares for its official opening and celebration, it promises to be a vibrant hub to inspire and support scholars for years to come.

"I have been longing for a physical space on our campus to bring together a community of faculty, students, and community members to delve into the intricacies of all things digital humanities,” says Katherine Harris, director of public programming for the SJSU College of Humanities and the Arts. “Beyond being a place to learn skills, the DHC is a space where we can gather to learn more about the use of artificial intelligence in, for instance, the health care system, local city infrastructure, preservation of indigenous languages, and more. We'll be able to host gatherings on data science while also encouraging attendees to showcase their own digital inclinations. Most importantly, the DHC space signals to everyone on campus that they are most likely already doing digital humanities without necessarily knowing it. By housing the DHC in the library, we can burst through disciplinary boundaries and embrace collaborations between, for example, the Spatial Analytics and Visualization Center and the Advanced Institute on Ethical Technologies. The partnership with the SJPL also gives us an opportunity to collaborate with community members to build an exciting bridge between our communities."